The Ivel Ringing Group was formed in 1990 and currently consists of half a dozen ringers and as many trainees/helpers. We operate at sites across Bedfordshire, some associated with the river Great Ouse, but concentrating on the CES sites as well as catching Mute Swans.

Monday, 25 August 2008

Not the best of days - it was quite windy and very overcast but it didn't rain.Early catches were good but it dried up by 09:30 and we only caught 2 more birds and they were at ~11:30. Total was 19 (1/16/2)Some good birds tho' as follows:Wren - 0/0/1, Dunno - 0/1/0, Robin - 0/2/1(ad from '07),Blabi - 0/1/0, makes 4 juvvies & 8 adultsSonth 0/2/0, makes 5 youngsters & 8 adultsLeswh - 0/1/0, White - 0/1/0, Blaca - 0/1/0,Garwa - 0/1/0, was 24.5 gms and fat 45Star birds today = Goldf - 0/8/0, & there were more about,Grefi 1/0/0, a 5M in mid moult.Thanks to MFP & NM for their company

Total was 3 unaged (Lotti's), 2 adults, 42 juvs and 3 r/ts.And we think we had two Malla - 'cos there wuz 2 big 'oles in one net!!!A couple of Buzzards overhead and 2 fg Herons in the SSSI trees.At one point, a group of Swallows passed south, twittering.We didn't catch the KF. It was nice to see 2 yng LG on one of the lagoons.

The second juvenile at this site this year! There's no mistaking that it only has 10 tail feathers!

Friday, 22 August 2008

Early start along the spit at Priory. 3 nets plus 1 on the crescent.Got caught out by a late and rather heavy shower (forecast was they'd be over by then). Not bad - 19 in all.Wren - 0/1/0, Dunno - 0/0/1, Robin - 0/3/0, a mottley crew of 3'sReewa - 0/5/1, all 5 juvs together, adult at least 5 years oldBlaca - 1/2/1, only the 1 (a 3) had finished moultChiff - 2/0/0, one of each, both ending moultBluti - 0/1/0, unringed ... of course!Chaff - 1/0/0, a large male in the middle of its moult.Chalton tomorrow?? CES on Sunday??

Wednesday, 20 August 2008

Ed and I put a net up across the yard entrance at PCP this morning "before work".21 birds caught incl. these 5 retraps - 1 Greti & 2 Bluti from the boxes. a young Reewa and VX36122, ringed as a pullus on 17-05-03 and recaught many times now.New birds ringed were 1 Dunno, 4 ad. Greti, 4 ad. Bluti, 3 Chaff (2 juv males), and 4 Housp (all 3's in moult).

For a bit of fun I've looked up the rate we've ringed new birds so far this year.First blood to MA on 01-01, a Greti.100th on 09-02, a Goldf200th on 15-02, a Dunno300th on 02-03, a Bramb400th on 10-04, a Woodp500th on 05-05, a White600th on 17-05, a Greti pull700th on 19-05, a Garwa800th on 24-05, a Bullf900th on 29-05, a Bluti pull1000th on 31-05, a Bluti pull1100th on 11-06, a Bluti1200th on 29-06, a Starl1300th on 17-07, a Blaca1400th on 01-08, a GarwaSo far, over 1500 new rings this year (data outstanding).

Saturday, 16 August 2008

A reasonable day, weather wise. Light winds at first but becoming breezy. A bit too cloudy with the sunny intervals waning. 27 birds in all, 4 of them in the extra net.

The significant things today were all the young Chiffs about, the Wilwas passing through, the 3J now 3 Blackcaps retrapped and it looks like the Tits are roaming at last, as they come to the end of their moult.It's turning out to be a good year for "Mavis", too.

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

The Spit - set a 300' line along the spit early. Not a complete waste of time - the wind was blowing and got worse! Ed helped out.3 Reewa - a new J, a 5F from last year that had given up nesting for 2008, and a 6F Control! Also a 3JF Wilwa, a scarcity in these parts. Plus 2 (mundane) local retraps.c.40 Houma over the tops of the Willows and a juv Swall.

Saturday, 9 August 2008

LH: Tried for a few birds this morning - weather not at its best, though. Cool - and wind got up by 10am. Two good results, namely a juvenile Kingfisher (pics by Ed) and an old Blackbird. This male was originally ringed as a 3JM on 15th Sept 2001 and, at 6 years 10 months & 25 days, is the third "oldest" ever for the Group. It had also not been caught since Aug 2002, when it had moved from 'the rough' to the 'long hedge'.

[For a list of the "top ten" oldest Blackbirds at Priory, go to the Priory CP blog of todays date]

Above: Weighing the kingfisher

Above: The kingfisher whispered to Errol, 'This is my best side'

Above: Just had to show you the bit most people see in the field (but up close!).

No trainees today, so had a slow start putting up the new nets.Stuck a 40 ft round the back later and had 6 birds here.It rained heavily as I was taking down - now suffering with back ache!A very good day, all in all; nice to catch more than 20 birds!

Migration under way; reports of large congregations of Wilwas "up north" and of the "last" Swifts moving out from colonies today. Some Houmas going south too.Sedwa and Reewa moving on south coast.

All up figures for PCP so far this year are:-425 new + 137 pulli = 562 and 269 retraps/sightings of 27 spp.CES (NFY, new for year) 121 adults + 122 juvs of 24 spp.

Friday, 1 August 2008

Friday - a fresher day, at last.1 new adult / 10 new juvs / 5 re-traps (3 ad + 2 J's)Dunno - 0/0/1, a male from 2003, caught many timesBlabi - 0/1/0, a new 3JJMSonth - 0/1/1, a 3JJ + a 5M from early Apr.Reewa - 0/1/1, the 9M r/t was also at FL 8 days ago, but has now started BMGarwa - 0/1/0, doing PJ BMBlaca - 1/3/0, a 5M starting PP moult, a full 3 & 2 JJsChiff - 0/2/0, both pretty freshBluti - 0/1/0, another 'escapee', a male in PJLotti - 0/0/2, both 3Js in full M, caught at the end of May

4 more Blaca (2 = adult females) caught this week (early mornings @ FM & FL)6 Reewa (3 new, inc 2x 3J) at FLOthers include Wren, Blabi, Dunno, male Bullf (the only one out of a family party) and a flock of 4 ad Lotti, all well on through main moult (all new birds these)

British Trust for Ornithology

Bird ringing in Britain and Ireland is organised and co-ordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).A network of over 2,500 highly trained and licensed volunteers currently ring over 850,000 birds every year. On average only one in every one hundred birds ringed is subsequently recaught elsewhere or found by a member of the public and reported.

Every report of a ringed bird is therefore of extreme value. To report a dead or colour-ringed bird, go to http://www.ring.ac .For more information about ringing in the UK and Eire, please go to http://www.bto.org/. A ringing scheme operates in every European country and most countries of the world.